Hi Carolyn,
Awesome job so that your students know exactly what is expected of them. Your students certainly cannot blame you for not knowing what is due. You make sure to cover all bases, how thorough. As adults they need to write on their own calendar. At this point in their life, they need to start being held accountable. You do your part as an instructor. They need to take some responsibility and do their part as a student.
Patricia
Hi Philip,
You do a fabulous job by making your course requirements clear. They are certainly no gray areas on your part when it comes to clarity. I am sure your students appreciate you providing ways to keep the line of communication going.
Patricia
My class prospectus relates all the information needed by the student. dates for quizzes, tests, when paperd are due. They can see which topics are covered on what day. I also include contact information and office hours to help with the communication process.
I include all the course requirements in my syllabus. Each weekly assignment requirement has a brief description and due date that the students need to submit. Then, I will use the portal to post the assignment requirements to remind the students every week. It works very well.
On the first night of class I go over the course requirements. I also had out a schedule of what will be covered each week during the course of the term.
I also make sure that my students know that any work not turned in on time will be considered late and points will be taken off for every day the assignment is late.
Hi Shoukat,
Our students have a lot going on and most of our students appreciate the reminders as to the assignments that are due.
Patricia
I also give each student a syllabus on the first day of class. We review it as a group to clarify any unclear expectations. Attendance is also discussed, some students think that it is OK to show up late and leave early, if they show up at all. There has to be some reprocussions for those that disregard their commitments. As we prepare these students for the working world, they need to understand that the reason a company hires them is because they need them as scheduled, not as they feel they want to show up.
I do the same thing with my students on a weekly basis. I have noticed that some students tend to forget what I had discussed originally at the beginning of the course. So this will be a reminder.
1-I will give the course Syllabus to students with Clear explanation of the course Objectives, the course Content,and Lesson Plans. The course Syllabus should explain to students how they can achieve the Objectives.
One the first day of class, I review Syllabus contents with my students and discuss course requirements, expectations and deadlines. In the past, I distributed a COMPLETED calendar that included entries for class assignments, group projects, quizzes, exams, etc. Through trial and error, I have found that students better retain requirements, guidelines and deadlines if THEY make the entries to the calendar. Now I distribute a BLANK calendar and we discuss each class assignment, special project, quizzes, exams, etc. I ask students to write each activity on their calendars on the date on which it is due. I also post all assignments, exams, etc. on our college's student portal, so students can see at a glance what is due on the next class day or look ahead to coming weeks. In each subsequent class I incorporate a brief 10-15 minute segment called "Calendar Review". I ask students to get out their calendars or look at their portals to confirm to me what assignments, projects are exams are due for the next 2-3 classes. At that time, we also go over requirements for more detailed projects, such as oral or written presentations. This helps me confirm that my students heard clearly my expectations, deadlines and requirements for the course.
Hi Art,
With you being as detailed as you are, your students cannot play the card "I didn't know." It appears you are very thorough with making things clear.
Patricia
First, I hand out the course Syllabus.
Then, I review the Syllabus on the first day of class.
Then, for every class after the first class, I hand out a snap shot of grades to date for each and every student.
The last thing I want is for a student to say, "I didn't know".
On my class outline I go over everything on it. I include assignment and test due dates.
Beyond just handing out and discussing the syllabus for each class, I discuss my expectations in a clear manner. I also ask the students what their expectations are to keep them engaged. Also, by them giving their input into the expectations, they set the standard and have more "buy in" because they helped to create the standards.
The first day of my class we read the syllabus together as a class. In addition, Every week I hand out a weekly outline of what we are preparing in class, when homework is due and what day tests or practicals are on.
After taking this section, I see that I could be more clear on the expectations of any practical and I have started doing so. In that, I tell them the standards of quality in the particular dish the day we make it and the day before the practical.
Hand out a syllabus, course calender broken down by days, and any other hand-outs needed to give them confidence up front about the class
The students receive a sylabus along with a question and answer session of course requirements.
On the first day of class I go over the syllabus in detail.
I also attach a "road map" of the course. For each class period, I list the topics to be discussed, the textbook reading assignment so the student is prepared for class, the homework assignment a student should have completed prior to coming to class and any project deadlines, quizzes or exams that will be held on a specific class day. Students that have questions about the reading assignment or homework can bring their questions to class and get them answered.
This "road map" tells a student what is expected of them from the first day of class and helps if a student is absent - they know exactly what they missed and what they should have completed in order to be prepared for the next class.
Hello Patricia
The program I currently teach in requires music production techniques be learned and accomplished. I start off with making very clear short "snippet" assignments, which will lead to a larger culminating assignment later in the term. It is a way to make sure students are grasping some very fundamental concepts, and building into more advanced as they progress. The end result is usually very good, and the students have a clear vision of what lies ahead as they develop into more serious, and challenged music producers. Each requirement to be met serves as as building block toward the overall expectations for the entire course.
Thanks!
I would cover the syllabus with the class on the first day. In addition, I would give a calendar on the first day listing the dates of assignments, quizzes, exams, and projects. I would indicate the lecture material to be covered each day and the dates of lab skills to be learned and performed. I would clearly indicate deadlines for each assignment and penalties for late assignments. On the calendar, I would describe the percentages of each exam, quiz, assignment, and project. Therefore, the students are clear on how they would earn their grade.
